After being routed 33-3 at home last weekend at the hands of Georgia Tech, Notre Dame will travel to Happy Valley Saturday to take on No. 14 Penn State. Unable to establish any rhythm on offense in the opener, the Fighting Irish will turn to highly touted freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen after Weiss named last year’s top high-school recruit this week's starter.
"I saw him a little bit last week against Georgia Tech, which was a tough test for him. I have a lot of respect for Coach Weiss, and he knows how to handle a quarterback," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "I expect this kid to do well, and I think Notre Dame will do well."
Penn State, a 59-0 winner against Florida International in its opener, won't underestimate the talents of Notre Dame and their new signal caller.
"He's got a good football team with him, and he's got a good coaching staff with him," Paterno said of Clausen and the Irish, restating his respect for the quarterback. "I think he'll come in here and do well. I think [the Notre Dame coaching staff] will do a good job having him do the things he can do."
Though the Irish appeared to have been vastly outplayed by the Yellow Jackets in the loss, Paterno still thinks Notre Dame is a highly talented team that just ran into a tough opponent, and he won't underestimate them when they meet this weekend.
"It was not a question of [Notre Dame] losing, Georgia Tech played a super game. … Everything went Georgia Tech's way."
Tressel beats old team Youngstown State
Though he's now more known for his national championship at Ohio State, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel first made a name for himself winning championships with the Division I-AA Youngstown State Penguins.
Last week, No. 12 Ohio State opened their season by hosting Youngstown, an enjoyable experience for the coach whose new team trumped his old one 38-6.
"It was really a different week last week watching film all week long with that penguin on the middle of the field, which you know I had watched for 15 years on a daily basis," Tressel said.
"I'm so proud of them. … They're so well schooled, and I guess I'm a little biased because [current Penguin coach] John Heacock was part of our staff, they do things so well and they play so hard for long," Tressel said.
And even though he was playing to win, beating his old school wasn't easy for the coach.
"I knew it was going to be a battle," Tressel said. "Quite frankly I just wanted to get it over with because it's so hard playing against family."
Michigan ready to move on, will face Oregon
Coming off a shocking loss at the hands of Appalachian State last week, Michigan will look to rebound against Pac-10 foe Oregon in the season's second weekend. Having endured the disappointment of the season-opening loss, Michigan is looking forward to proving that it is still one of the country's top teams.
"I think the test of any team is how they handle disappointment, and I know the guys we have on this football [team], I know they're good people, they want to win, be successful," Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr said.
"I think the mood is one that is dedicated to being a better football team this week."
Though the team underperformed as a whole in the loss, at least one Wolverine, senior running back and Heisman Trophy candidate Mike Hart, lived up to his billing and will need to do the same this week for Michigan to beat Oregon.
"He had an outstanding game, he did a wonderful job in pass protection, and of course he made a great run late in the fourth quarter," Carr said.
Hart ran 23 times for 188 yards and three touchdowns. His fourth quarter touchdown run from 54 yards gave the Wolverines the lead late in the game.
"He's a special guy, and he did all the things we expect him to do."
